Pulitzer-winning plays, patriotic concerts and literary dance inspirations, plus early holiday treats across the state

By the Thirst Team

Here are some of the best events across Colorado for the next few weeks. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

This week, we are focusing on performing arts across Colorado. Here are our top picks in the state’s theater, dance and classical music.

‘Doubt: A Parable’ in Louisville Oct. 30 to Nov. 14

Coal Creek Theater of Louisville will stage “Doubt: A Parable,” starting Friday, Oct. 30, at the Louisville Center for the Arts. The story is set in 1964 in the Bronx, where a Catholic school principal suspects a parish priest of inappropriate behavior with a student. The play won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play, and was adapted into a 2008 film starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Symphony of the Rockies celebrates America at 250 in Lone Tree Nov. 6

Celebrations of America's 250th birthday continue on Friday, Nov. 6, with a Symphony of the Rockies show at the Lone Tree Arts Center. The group promises patriotic favorites, inspiring musical tributes and stories of courage and resilience.

Miles Davis tributes in the Denver area Nov. 6, 13 and 29

The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra Sextet featuring trumpeter Shane Endsley and vocalist Hannah Rodriguez will celebrate the 100th birthday of Miles Davis and trace his influence across modern jazz at three upcoming shows. Performances are Friday, Nov. 6, at the Lakewood Cultural Center; Friday, Nov. 13, at The Schoolhouse Theater in Parker; and Sunday, Nov. 29, at Dazzle Denver.

Fort Collins Symphony performs with Soda Shop dancers Nov. 7

The Soda Shop Movement Company will bring a choreographer and two dancers to accompany the Fort Collins Symphony for the Dance & Music in Motion concert on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center. The dancers will perform Manuel de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo: Ballet Pantomime.” The orchestra also will perform Jennifer Higdon’s “Dance Card” and Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring.”

Opera Colorado stages ‘Macbeth’ Nov. 7 to 15

Verdi’s “Macbeth” is an adaptation of perhaps the greatest literary tragedy by perhaps the greatest Italian opera composer. Opera Colorado brings the landmark show back to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at Denver Performing Arts Complex for four performances — Nov. 7, 10, 13 and 15. The opera is performed in Italian, with English and Spanish captions. A free pre-performance lecture begins one hour before each performance.

Annika Weidemann, Echo Sweet, Charlotte Meilaender, and Abigayle Crampton as the March sisters in Ballet Ariel’s “Little Women.” | Photo provided

Ballet Ariel’s ‘Little Women’ in Denver Nov. 8

Ilena Norton, artistic and executive director of Ballet Ariel, choreographed a two-act performance of vignettes from Louisa May Alcott’s 1869 book “Little Women.” The costumes, choreography and scenic design bring to life the four March sisters and their connections. The music blends traditional holiday music with classical pieces by Grieg and other composers. The show will be on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s new Center for the Healing Arts.

Bassoon takes center stage in Denver and Fort Collins Nov. 10 and 14

The Front Range Chamber Players will present “What’s Not to Love About the Bassoon?” on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Fort Collins; and Saturday, Nov. 14, in Denver. Quincey Trojanowski will be the featured bassoonist, and the group will play pieces by Carl Maria Von Weber, Libby Larsen and Anton Reicha.

‘One of the Good Ones’ at Curious Nov. 12 to Dec. 13

Curious Theatre Company will stage the regional premiere of Gloria Calderón Kellett’s “One of the Good Ones,” opening Thursday, Nov. 12, at the company’s temporary home in Cleo Parker Robinson’s Park Avenue facility. The play tells the story of a Yoli, who is set to introduce her boyfriend to her family. “What should be a joyful gathering quickly becomes more complicated as differing perspectives, assumptions, and deeply held beliefs come to the surface.”

Evergreen Orchestra performs in Golden and Denver Nov. 14 and 15

The Evergreen Chamber Orchestra celebrates its 45th season with a Masterworks Concert series. The fall shows include a celebration of Colorado composer Cindi Hsu. Jason Shafer, principal clarinetist for the Colorado Symphony, will then join the orchestra to perform Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. The concert ends with Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major. The concerts will be on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Rockland Community Church in Golden; and Sunday, Nov. 15, at the First Universalist Church of Denver.

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performs in Denver Nov. 15

The Friends of Chamber Music host the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for “Home, Suite Home,” featuring works by Handel, Haydn and Mozart. Award-winning British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason will join Orpheus for Mozart’s Viennese concerto. Also, Welsh composer and New York transplant Katie Jenkins debuts Elixir of Life, a Colorado premiere co-commissioned through the Friends of Chamber Music. The concert will be at the Newman Center on Sunday, Nov. 15

‘Big: The Musical’ opens Nov. 20 in Littleton

The Tom Hanks body-switching classic “Big” is coming to the Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton in a family-friendly musical adaptation, complete with the iconic giant piano. Watch Josh Baskin learn what it means to “be careful what you wish for.” The show runs from Friday, Nov. 20, to Sunday, Dec. 27.

Denver Concert Band makes merry in Lone Tree Nov. 22

The Denver Concert Band “Eat, Drink and Be Merry” is designed to kick off the holiday season with upbeat music ranging from a Sousa march and an orchestral suite inspired by Dutch paintings to “Food, Glorious Food” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The show is a few days before Thanksgiving, on Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Lone Tree Arts Center.

‘White Christmas’ opens Nov. 27 in Parker

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas: The Musical” returns to the Schoolhouse Theater in Parker from Nov. 27 to Dec. 20. The show about a pair of World War II veterans with a popular song-and-dance act is based on the 1954 holiday classic film with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

Boulder Ballet and Boulder Phil present ‘Nutcracker’ Nov. 27 and 29

Macky Auditorium in Boulder will host the Boulder Ballet Company and the Boulder Philharmonic for their annual collaboration on Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” The Friday and Sunday night performances are full renditions. On Sunday afternoon, the groups will debut “The Nutcracker Suite,” a one-hour version designed for young audiences and first-time ballet audiences. Young fans can also meet the characters and get a kid-friendly explanation of the story and characters.

Colorado Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ opens Nov. 28

The Colorado Ballet production of “The Nutcracker” has been a family holiday tradition for 66 years. This year’s show comes to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Nov. 28 to Dec. 27. That includes a sensory-friendly matinee performance on Nov. 29. The show is based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s story, and follows Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on a journey into the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram. Heads up: we will give away a pair of Nutcracker tickets in early November.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the performing arts preview, we will add them to our events calendar.

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